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Despite Economy, PCCA Enjoys Strong Year

The Power & Communication Association (PCCA) and its members continued to navigate difficult economic times in 2011, looking for new opportunities and for ways to work smarter, reports Tim Wagner, PCCA executive vice president. PCCA maintained a positive bottom line throughout 2011, had strong attendance at its meetings, and had a solid 4 percent membership increase from 2010.

The generally positive outlook was dampened by the untimely death on Nov. 30 of PCCA’s 2011 President Larry Libla. President-Elect Tommy Muse assumed the association’s presidency four months before he would have taken office in March at the 2012 PCCA convention.

“PCCA members are deeply saddened by the death of our respected colleague and good friend, Larry Libla,” said Wagner.

Education and sharing information is one of PCCA’s primary goals, and the 2011 convention in March, attended by more than 300 industry professionals, included a standing-room-only crowd at the Construction Industry Roundtable, a Young Construction Professionals program on project logistics and a memorable keynote address from Pulitzer Prize-winning humorist Dave Barry. Educational sessions were presented about issues of great importance to association members: compliance with Davis-Bacon requirements on federally funded projects and Tier 4 emissions regulations,

The mid-year meeting in August included a roundtable led by the deputy assistant administrator of the Rural Utility Service telecom program discussing the agency’s grant and loan programs, a roundtable session of consultant group FMI’s conclusion that the utility sector is doing well in a weak economy, and a report concerning on-going shortages of fiber optic cable. The educational sessions were highlighted with a program about employee engagement and a YCP program on supply chain-client relationships.

Wagner said other association highlights during 2011 included:

• Working with RUS and the American Communication Engineers (ACE) to revise RUS Form 515, the contract form for telecommunications system construction; • Continued growth of PCCA’s Young Construction Professionals (YCP) program which provides younger members and those rising in the management ranks with business and industry exposure, executive/leadership training, and lessons from more experienced association members; • The PCCA Journal continued to inform members about relevant industry and government news and educate them with articles written by industry experts on topics such as market conditions, troublesome contract terms, managing subcontractors, complying with Davis-Bacon, human resources and other timely subjects; and • Promotion of the PCCA and its members at key industry trade shows Windpower 2011 in Anaheim, CA, UCT 2011 in Houston and ICUEE in Louisville, KY.

PCCA’s 2012 convention will be March 9-14 in San Antonio, TX.

President Tommy Muse is president and chief executive officer of Aubrey Silvey Enterprises, Carrollton, GA, a company providing construction, engineering, manufacturing and computer networking services.

For the past 66 years, PCCA has represented the interests of contractors, manufacturers and suppliers in the various sectors of power and communication construction throughout North America. PCCA provides industry education, resources, advocacy and networking to help its members succeed. FOR MORE INFO: Power & Communication Contractors Association, (800) 542-7222, www.pccaweb.org 2012 PCCA Annual Convention Hyatt Hill Country Resort San Antonio, TX March 9-14

Larry Libla Funeral services were held Dec. 4, 2011 in Fisk, MO, for PCCA President Larry Libla, who died Nov. 20 in St. Louis, MO.

Libla began his career in construction with ElectriCom in Paoli, IN, and in 1972 he and his wife, Pam, established L&P Contractors. In 1977, the Liblas formed Libla Communications in Poplar Bluff, MO. Libla joined PCCA in 1990, was elected to the board of directors in 1998, and served the last six years as an officer of the association. He became president in March 2011.

In addition to his wife of 39 years, Libla is survived by daughters Anna Whitlow, Christina Miller, and Alicia Libla; sons-in-law Jerry Whitlow and Kurt Miller; four grandchildren, and his mother, Marglie,

Memorials can be made to the Larry W. Libla Memorial Scholarship Fund in care of First Missouri State Bank, 1902 Sunset Drive, Poplar Bluff, MO 63901.

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Underground Construction serves the water, sewer, natural gas and telecom industries with the latest news, products, project case studies and regulation updates relevant to the underground industry. Readership is composed of contractors, engineers, municipal employees and other asset owners. The magazine reaches approximately 38,000 readers, all of whom have individually requested it in writing.